Edinburgh Editor Fee Orr writes… Oh, it’s so good to be ‘back to normal’ – in fact, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe is hosting more pieces of musical theatre in this single year than I can ever recall before!
Here at Musical Theatre Review, we will once again set our team the challenge of finding the best work in Edinburgh in 2022. We are aiming to draw up a shortlist for our Best Musical Award that we will publish on 21 August, followed by the final week of judging and the announcement of the winner.
Looking over the shows coming this year, here are some we believe to be worthy of consideration (but we may discover many more!).
LAND – A New Scottish Musical
Gilded Balloon Patter Hoose – Dram, 3-28 August (not 15), 13:00
[Kick the Door]
Bethany Tennick (Islander, Thread, Burns: A Lost Legacy) brings her talent for writing music and lyrics to this new piece with a book by Iona Ramsay, directed by Fraser Scott who also came up with the concept.
This new folk musical seeks to explore our heritage and legacy, weaving two parallel stories; one of a crofter and a wandering soldier in the 18th century, and one of a pensioner and his carer in the 21st. LAND fuses traditional Scottish trad/folk styles with a modern electronic sound to create its compelling soundtrack, performed live by the actor-musician cast of three. LAND celebrates compassion, and community that transcends shifting cultures, asking that we take a second to re-evaluate our relationships with the earth and our neighbours.
Seven and a Half Years
theSpace @ Surgeon’s Hall – Theatre 2, 5-27 August (not 14), 18:00
This is a uniquely candid autobiographical work that merited a special mention from MTR at last year’s Festival.
“This show tells his survivor’s story in an expression of hope… There are several very well-crafted songs in the show: songs not only from the heart but touching the heart of the listeners” ★★★★ Musical Theatre Review (Edinburgh Festival Fringe, August 2021).
Having time to develop and bringing in Julia Stubbs as director can only be welcomed as Mark Glentworth has a fine tale to tell.
Lizard Boy
Gilded Balloon Patter Hoose – Big Yin, 4-28 August, 18:30
[Creative Endeavor Office, Blair Russell Productions]
During a bizarre childhood accident, Trevor was drenched head to toe in dragon’s blood. Growing green and scaly skin, he withdrew from the world.
This show, fresh from America, is described as a unique, dynamic, indie-rock musical. Telling the story of Trevor meeting and dating his first boyfriend, the creator of the show – author, composer and actor Justin Huertas – said he is interested to hear what new audiences will bring to the piece. The show has been called ‘ingenious’ (San Francisco Chronicle), ‘phenomenal’ (MercuryNews.com) and ‘ferocious and funny’ (Seattle Times).
BLODLINA: The Viking Musical
Pleasance Dome – KingDome, 3-29 August (not 10, 17, 24), 13:30
[VNM Musicals, Graham & Townley Productions]
This was born from the pandemic and is a new musical theatre production premiering at this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Thrilling sword fights are promised, providing the percussive rhythms to a pulsating score of folk, heavy metal and musical theatre. It’s the powerful story of two sisters back in 900AD fighting for leadership over their late father’s rule, amidst the growing threat to their tiny Viking community by the neighbouring tyrannical dictator.
Blodlina is a tale of leadership, loss, patriarchy, feudalism and family. It’s about stubbornness and love, rivalry and friendship. A large-scale musical extravaganza, Blodlina is adapted and downsized specifically for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and features a versatile cast of 11 performers/musicians.
Blood Harmony
Traverse Theatre (1), 2-28 August (not 8, 15, 22), times vary
[ThickSkin, Lawrence Batley Theatre, Watford Palace Theatre, Wales Millennium Centre]
Bold new writing and dynamic physicality combine in Blood Harmony which follows a fractured trio of sisters who are drawn back together by news that turns their worlds upside down.
The highly visual and musically charged new production is inspired by the enchanting music of Atlantic Records artists The Staves and their album, Good Woman, written following the loss of their mother. Music by the indie folk siblings is woven through this stunning production. The music includes an original song written for the production and all tracks have exclusive new arrangements by Kate Marlais (Enter Achilles, Fatherland) sung live by the talented cast of three performers: Eve de Leon Allen, Keshini Misha and Philippa Hogg.
Living With Sin
theSpace @ Surgeon’s Hall – Grand Theatre, 5-27 August (not 14 and 21), times vary
[Cambridge University Musical Theatre Society, CUMTS]
When her grandmother dies, Cece spirals into a quarter-life crisis. Lost, lonely, and looking for purpose, she finds support from some unexpected house guests: the Seven ‘Deadly’ Sins. As Cece goes on a journey of self-discovery, she begins to question if living with sin is not so deadly after all… From the Cambridge University Musical Theatre Society (CUMTS), a company that MTR has been supporting for many years, this sounds like a worthy next chapter.
“We’re so excited to follow up our successful runs of SIX, Rust and On Your Bike with this ‘Faustian Queer Eye’,” says CUMTS president Aisha Wheatley. “This brand new musical will charm Fringe audiences with its dark wit and sultry music.”
Kathy and Stella Solve A Murder!
Roundabout @ Summerhall, 3-28 August (not 4, 9, 16 and 23), 21:50
[Francesca Moody Productions]
Murder obsessed BFFs Kathy and Stella host Hull’s least successful true-crime podcast. When their favourite author is killed, they are thrust into a thrilling whodunnit of their own! Can they crack the case (and become global podcast superstars) before the killer strikes again?
This laugh-out-loud musical reunites the writing and musical talents of Jon Brittain and Matthew Floyd Jones (Frisky and Mannish) who last collaborated on the critically acclaimed Musical Theatre Review Best Musical winner and Fringe First award-winning A Super Happy Story (About Feeling Super Sad).
Making a Murderer: The Musical
Underbelly Bristo Square – Cowbarn, 3-29 August (not 15), 17:40
[Smart Entertainment]
Based on the real case and true events of Steven Avery, which inspired an award-winning Netflix true crime documentary series, this comedy/drama musical was created by and stars BAFTA-winning comedy writer Phil Mealey, the show highlights the many flaws, biases and inconsistencies that contributed to both of Avery’s convictions and that exist in the justice system today.
Mealey said of the musical: “When I watched the documentary, like many others I was outraged at the way the system seemed stacked against Steven and his nephew Brendan. As a writer I saw so many astonishing twists and turns and intriguing characters that if this were written as an original story no one would believe it was plausible. Drama has the ability to tackle sensitive, real-life subjects and in this case consider the impact of crime on the victims and their families, but music serves as a powerful cue to emotions, memories and feelings that cannot be communicated through words alone. Our intention is to highlight and parody the inconsistencies in the case where people with power have not used that power fairly or effectively. Compassion and empathy must extend to all those who are victims of a flawed system so that they receive the justice that they truly deserve.”
Mealey is best known for his writing of Early Doors and co-writing episodes of The Royle Family.
Classic!
Pleasance Courtyard – Pleasance One, 3-28 August (not 8, 15, 22), 14:40
[Hope Mill Theatre]
This is the first Fringe show from Manchester’s award-winning Hope Street Theatre, billed as a furiously fast romp through all those classic novels you always intended to read but never got round to. Moby Dick as a sea shanty anyone? Jane Eyre as a silent movie? Oliver Twist is film noir and Black Beauty becomes a pantomime. They’re all here amidst myriad costume changes and rattling high speed laughs, drama… and brilliant fun!
Written by Coronation Street/Emmerdale writers Lindsay Williams and Peter Kerry and directed by Joyce Branagh (recently seen in Oscar-winning film Belfast directed by her brother Kenneth) and performed by a cast of six, this is a wonderfully funny show for everyone.
Don’t Say Macbeth
ZOO Playground – Playground 2, 5-28 August, (not 10, 17, 24), 15:35
[GOYA Theatre Company]
From GOYA Theatre Company: the audience is invited backstage to witness preparations for the world premiere of a retelling of Macbeth from the perspective of the three witches. Unfortunately, things are not going to plan. Most of the songs have been stolen from other musicals; the cast are far from line-perfect and the technicians lack technical skill.
Writer and Director, Sam Woof commented: “Don’t Say Macbeth is a ruthlessly mockery of musical theatre, but it is also a love letter to the form. It’s an outrageous celebration of the glitz and the glam. A big warm-hearted comedy that follows one tragically cliched melange of second-rate musical theatre stars as they barrel towards the opening (and almost immediate closing) of ‘Double Bubble: The Musical’. Conceived in a time when theatre itself seemed to be at death’s door, Don’t Say Macbeth is a chaotic celebration of everything theatre can be.”
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